MULCH: NEW RANGE + MULCH CALENDAR

Traditional types of mulch - grass, straw and sawdust - are not always found in the right amount. What else can be used in this capacity? Of course, we are not talking about purchased materials that are not cheap.

© Author: German Arsenievich RAPTUNOVICH

Until recently, many considered the garden to be exemplary, in which weeds were completely eliminated. The earth remained open to sunlight, rain and wind. At the same time, a satisfactory, but not high, harvest was collected, since the soil was overheated and cracked, which created unfavorable conditions for plants. After the gardeners began to mulch the beds, and at first carefully and with distrust, the fruiting of vegetable crops improved significantly.

I have been using mulch for many years. Materials of non-biological origin were temporarily abandoned, because worms multiplied in large numbers under black film, roofing material, cardboard, and after them hunters for this “game” appeared - moles. I can not say that such a mulch is not suitable. It is quite possible that after I drive out the uninvited guests from the site, I will return to her again.

From organic materials, I used sawdust, straw, needles, weeds without seeds (except wheatgrass). In recent years, I began to use other raw materials, which are located next to the site, so you don’t have to go far for it. I will briefly describe each type.

NETTLE AS MULCH

This is a good and affordable material for use from April to September. You can find a burning plant in wastelands, forest edges, abandoned vegetable gardens, and even on your site, if you leave part of the thickets somewhere in an inconspicuous place near a fence or barn.

I lay out young shoots with leaves under nightshade crops. Nettle significantly enriches the soil with nutrients. Its value has long been known to people: the plant was eaten, fed to domestic animals. Dried nettles can be used next season.

LUPINE AS MULCH

The flowers of this plant are in business. They are easily removed without damaging the bush itself. In 1S-20 minutes I fill a 20-liter bucket. These flowers cover the entire surface of the soil in the greenhouse. It looks very nice, and the plants under such a cover are good. Lupine is a rich source of nitrogen, it contains up to 30% protein.

SWAMP DUCKS AS MULCH

This good is now enough, because our reservoirs are shallower and more like swamps. There are a lot of nutrients in duckweed, for which all waterfowl, especially ducks, love it.

With an ordinary net, in 10-15 minutes I collect two baskets of this raw material. In a slightly dried form, I use it as a mulch. The effect is magnificent, besides, the mulched soil has an aesthetic appearance.

Note

Many have white clover on their lawns and cultivated lawns. After mowing, it is excellent for mulching beds. First, the plant enriches the soil with nitrogen. Secondly, the flowers, slowly drying out, attract bees for about two weeks. And they simultaneously pollinate garden plants.

WALNUT AS MULCH

I cover the soil with the leaves of this tree. By smell, you can determine that iodine is present in this raw material. Based on experience, I take the liberty of asserting: such a mulch helps protect tomatoes from late blight.

Reference by topic: Can I cover plants with walnut leaves and use them as mulch?

FIRE AND CHAF LIKE MULCH

Both materials are agricultural waste. In the first case, this is the shell of the flax stem, which is removed to get to the fibers. In the second - shells of seeds of rye, barley, wheat, buckwheat. Such raw materials are available in the fall after harvest, but it is quite possible to keep them until spring.

MULCH CALENDAR

I improve the soil in the greenhouse using mulch and double greening. In early May, I mulch the surface with nettles, in mid-June with lupine flowers, in early July with mown white clover. At the end of June - beginning of July I use duckweed, and at the end of July - walnut leaves. In August, pods of peas, beans and beans are used.

At the end of September, I remove the tops of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants from greenhouses. I dig up the area, moisten it, sow oats. By the end of October, green manure grows by 20-25 cm. At this time, I dig deep into the ground. In the spring of next year, I sow peas, by the beginning of May I dig them up and make planting holes for nightshade crops.

See also: The main thing about mulching - why, how, with what?

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